Friday, June 1, 2012

Imaginary June 4th Apology

In June 2006 Canada
found it in its heart to say sorry for a racist head tax imposed over a century
ago on foreign nationals - Chinese immigrants. On the 23rd
anniversary of the June 4th event, an apology from the Chinese
government is still being awaited for a much more heinous crime it committed in
1989 - mass murder of its very own nationals.

Some passages in Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s address
delivered in June 2006 appear interestingly suitable for paraphrasing into part
of an imaginary apology statement by Chinese leaders:-

Original:-

“We acknowledge the high cost of the head tax meant many
families were left behind in China,
never to be reunited, or that families lived apart and, in some cases, in
poverty, for many years.”

Imaginary:-

“We acknowledge the atrocious killing of students and
citizens meant their loved ones and families were left with raw emotional
wounds, never to be healed, or that many families suffered further agony when their
pleas for redress were ignored, and were, in some cases, penalized, for many
years.”

Original:-

“We also recognize that our failure to acknowledge these
historical injustices has prevented many in the community from seeing
themselves as fully Canadian.”

Imaginary:-

“We also recognize that our failure to acknowledge such
historical brutality has prevented many in the Chinese community, especially
the Hong Kong and overseas community, from seeing
themselves as fully Chinese.”

Original:-

“Therefore, Mr. Speaker, on behalf of all Canadians and the
Government of Canada, we offer a full apology to Chinese Canadians for the head
tax and express our deepest sorrow for the subsequent exclusion of Chinese
immigrants.”

Imaginary:-

“Therefore, Mr. Chairman, on behalf the Government of the
PRC and the Politburo, we offer a full apology to Chinese nationals for the unwarranted
June 4th killings and express our deepest sorrow for the subsequent
gross mistreatment of the victims’ families.”

Original:-

“This apology is not about liability today: it is about
reconciliation with those who endured such hardship, and the broader
Chinese-Canadian community.”

Imaginary:-

“This apology is not about face-saving today: it is about
reconciliation with those who endured such pain and agony, and the broader
Chinese community.”